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Friday, July 12, 2013

Today is Paper Bag Day. Back in the 1870's, a lady named Margaret E. Knight invented a part that allowed for a square bottomed paper bags to be created. She is considered the mother of the grocery bag. Today you can still see the result of her work. Brown paper bags are commonly used in stores and especially in liquor Stores to hold tall bottles of beer or wine. Here's what's happening around the Colorado beerosphere today Friday, July 12th, 2013. If you aren't reading this article on FermentedlyChallenged.com, you don't know what you're missing.

Metro Denver

Colorado Irish Festival (Littleton) - This festival commemorates its 19th Anniversary this weekend, July 12-14 and promises to be better than ever! Held in the heather of Clement Park in Littleton, with a backdrop of the Rocky Mountain Highlands, the Colorado Irish Festival celebrates all that is Green. This eclectic gathering of tens of thousands is known throughout the west for its outrageous display of kilts and bagpipes; Gaelic sports and Irish step dancing; and the best Irish rock and classic music this side of the Emerald Isle. This year an incomparable line-up of over 20 bands and musicians will be playing all weekend. If you thought St. Patty’s was fun, imagine 3 days of non-stop celebration. Plenty of Irish-style beer available. Website: www.coloradoirishfestival.org

Breckenridge Brewery (Denver) - The brewery is turning 23 years old and is throwing a Hootenanny. They are blocking off Kalamath Street for a big street party on Saturday, July 13th from 12pm to 6pm. There will be plenty of BBQ, beer and live music for this event. Tickets and info are available on www.breckbrew.com.Parry's Pizza (Highlands Ranch) - On Saturday, July 13th all day long the taps will belong to Oskar Blues for a big tap takeover. Not only will all their regular brews be on tap, but also some rarities like Obliterator, Chaka, Icey Wheat IPA, Maple Flurry and some other greats including some barrel aged goodness. Stop in and get your Oskar Blues fix at Parry's in Highlands Ranch. (Parry's Pizza is a sponsor of Fermentedly Challenged)

Arvada Beer Company (Arvada) - Stop in today for a taste of their Dunkelweizen, a dark wheat brew weighing in at 4.7% ABV. Mixes aromas and flavors of chocolate (from the dark malts) and banana (from the wheat). Now on tap!

Factotum Brewhouse (Denver) - They've gotten permission from both the Feds and Colorado to start brewing and now they wish to reach their stretch goal of an additional $2,000 on their Kickstarter campaign to outfit their taproom with appropriate glassware. The reached their initial goal of $8,000 and now wish to raise a full $10,000 to do even more! Check out their Kickstarter page and see if you can contribute to their efforts.

Great American Beer Festival (Denver) - If you recall last year and how fast this event sold out (45 minutes), you'll want to get ready for this year's ticket sales as it is set to happen at the end of this month. For AHA/BA members, ticket sales start on Ticketmaster on Tuesday, July 30th at 10am Mountain Time. For the General Public, tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 31st at 10am Mountain Time. Expect this event to sell out even faster than last year. Many of you may get shut out - so if you really want to go - get an army of friends together and all try to get tickets the second they go on sale. Here's the link for the event on Ticketmaster. Bookmark it now and mark your calendars as you'll only get about a half hour shot at getting tickets. Don't blow it, otherwise you'll have to pay three times as much on StubHub later on.

Science on Tap (Denver) - On Monday, July 22nd - Back by popular demand, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s Young Professionals Committee and the Denver Beer Co. are partnering to present Science on Tap, an annual event featuring unique brews and the opportunity to learn about the craft of brewing in Colorado from Dr. Nicole Garneau, curator of human health at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Attendees will meet up with fellow young professionals, enjoy delicious eats from The Über Sausage, Basic Kneads Pizza, and Peteybird Ice Cream, and drink exclusive beers created by the Museum and Denver Beer Co. in a brewing experiment. Dr. Garneau, along with Patrick Crawford and Charlie Berger, co-owners of Denver Beer Co., collected wild yeast samples from Denver’s City Park that are being used in a beer that can be sampled at the event. In addition to the beer brewed with wild yeast, attendees will have the opportunity to sample three additional beers, fermented from the same batch, with three different yeasts to experience how yeast changes the flavor of beer. The event will likely sell out. Purchasing tickets in advanced is encouraged. For more information and to reserve tickets, click here.

Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project (Denver) - Swanze Day 2013 has been set for September 14th. It is being celebrated at 46 locations all over the world and Crooked Stave is the only place in Colorado where you can celebrate it. Swanze Day is hosted by Brasserie Cantillon, a traditional Lambic brewery from Belgium and marks a special annual beer release that you won't want to miss.

Hops & Pie (Denver) - What's new on tap at Hops & Pie? How about: 10 Commandments from The Lost Abbey, Levity from Odell, Grasshop-ah from CCC, Board Meeting Brown from Port, Hennepin from Brewery Ommegang, Sixty-One from Dogfish Head, Double Jack from Firestone Walker, Hop O Citra from Green Flash, Samael's Ale from Avery and Hopabomination from Dry Dock on the hand pull TAPPED! Stop in for a pint or two and don't forget their pizza! (Hops & Pie are a sponsor of Fermentedly Challenged)

The Brew on Broadway (Englewood) - Englewood's new brewery, aka The BoB, opened last Saturday. This place has a dual purpose. In the morning, it acts as a coffee house with coffee and breakfast items. Then at 11am the brewery side opens serving up their own special beers. Their tasting room has room for 100 people and has 4 beers on tap including an ESB, an IPA, a Pale Ale and an English Mild. There's even an outdoor patio out back. They are located at 3445 S. Broadway in Englewood, CO.

Boulder County

Twisted Pine Brewing (Boulder) - On Saturday, July 13th, join in for their 18th Anniversary, featuring unlimited samples of over 30 Twisted brews, including their vintage award-winning Northstar Imperial Porter, Bough Breaker (their 16th Anniversary Barleywine), 10 small batch creations, and their 18th Anniversary beer, Bishops Elbow ESB. Live music will be provided by Hot Soup, Blow the Vault, and more. Local food trucks will be on site to answer any hunger callings, and they'll even have a dunk tank so you can release your simmering aggression against the Twisted staff (all proceeds benefit the Emergency Family Assistance Association). Tickets at: Eventbrite.

Very Nice Brewing Company (Nederland) - The brewery opens early today at noon in honor of their new next door neighbor - Mountain Man Outdoor Store. If you make a purchase at Mountain Man they will give you a token for $1 off a pint at Very Nice Brewing Company. (Limit one token per beer)

Oskar Blues (Longmont) - Do you love to cook BBQ? Think you have the best, lip smackin' good BBQ around? Enter the OB BBQ Off to raise money for the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure on Saturday, July 20th. You have to enter one entree and one side, entry costs $30 and the best entree wins a keg of Dale's, Mama's or Old Chub; best side gets a $50 OB gift card. Pump up that smoker and show them what you got! Event runs at the Tasty Weasel from 12pm to 4pm.

Crystal Springs Brewing (Boulder/Louisville) - Work has begun on their new tasting room in Louisville. They are doing demo work now and in 2-3 weeks they will get building permits to start the construction. In stores, look for their Butch strong pale ale and Marilyn, a Belgian-style golden ale.

FATE Brewing Company (Boulder) - This month has been busy for beer releases. Earlier this month they brought back their Cascadian Dark Ale, tapped a Lulo Wheat Beer, and brewed up a Coffee Kolsch. Today, they are pleased to announce a collaboration beer with Kyle Hollingsworth - it's a Hopped Honey Wheat Ale made with tea called "Apollo Tsai". It's on tap at FATE and will be a featured beer at Kyle's Brewfest in Boulder on July 20th.

Avery Brewing Company (Boulder) - Tickets are still on sale for their upcoming 20th Anniversary Party set for Sunday, August 4th. This event will sell out before the end of the month so get tickets at www.averyanniversary.eventbrite.com soon. They will feature rare beers from their cellar including sour/wild ales, big beers, IPA iterations as well as having live music and a big grand BBQ buffet. The event will happen at the brewery from 12pm to 5pm.

Northern Colorado

Loveland Loves BBQ, Bands & Brews (Loveland) - It's back and it starts today and runs through Saturday in downtown Loveland. Come enjoy mouth watering BBQ, award-winning brews and live music - a new band every hour. Other activities include shopping marketplace, amusements, a car show (Saturday only) and welded art & assemblage show. Visit www.e-l-events.org for more info. The fest runs from 3pm to 10pm July 12th and 11am to 10pm Saturday. Free to attend - food & beer sold separately.

The Mayor of Old Town (Ft. Collins) - Has it been 2 years already? Yup! And they are throwing a party to mark the occasion. Stop in on Monday, July 15th for their 2nd Year Anniversary celebration starting at 2pm. They've served up over 500,000 pints in 2 years and have saved up some really special beers just for this occasion. Located at 632 S. Mason Street. (The Mayor of Old Town is a sponsor of Fermentedly Challenged)

Grimm Brothers Brewhouse (Loveland) - One of their brewers (Trevor) recently finished his brewing degree last year and is celebrating by brewing up one of his own recipes - a Milk Stout. Look for that to be on tap in a few weeks at Grimm Bros. Don't forget to stop at the Loveland Loves BBQ, Bands & Brews this weekend in Loveland and try one of Grimm Brothers beers. Also, from noon to 3pm today (July 12th) they are offering $1 off pints on all beers.

The Fort Collins Brewery (Ft. Collins) - In honor of the Silver Grill Cafe's 80th anniversary, Fort Collins Brewery has brewed up "Shady 80 Ale", an American Wheat Ale brewed with lemons to commemorate a place where beer has been enjoyed on their shaded back patio ever since the end of prohibition. FCB will host a tapping party in their tasting room from 4-8pm on Friday, July 19th. Then on July 20th and 21st the beer will be featured as part of Silver Grill's "World's Largest Bloody Mary Bar".

Pateros Creek Brewing (Ft. Collins) - Comedy fans will want to attend tonight's FoCo Funny Friday that starts at 7:30pm at the brewery. Tonight's headliner is Kevin Bennett. The Goodness food truck will also be on site for your foodular needs. Their taps are full and waiting for you. Just show up, drink beer and have some laughs.

Southern Front Range

Trinity Brewing Company (Colorado Springs) - Today at 5pm marks the tapping of their newest sour beer - "7 Day Sour - Vert Gueuze". Stop in and try this beer now. Seven Day Sour is brewed with a first and second 'slims' process, and a malt bill built with over 30% raw wheat and 30% chit malt to dramatically drive up starches and proteins which our quirky wild microbes love to feed on. They soured this recipe with an advanced and progressive method utilizing a hot fermentation in the kettle with Lactobacillus, followed by a cool fermentation on brettanomyces; making this beer anything but simple. Seven day Sour is a young and unblended gueuze showcasing a refreshing acidity and complex bretta notes. Also, this Sunday July 14th tickets go on sale for their upcoming Rare Beer Dinner set for August 25th at 8pm.

Mountains and West

Breckenridge Beer Festival (Breckenridge) - It happens twice a year. Once in April and the other is this weekend on July 13th! Unlimited beer tasting from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. with over 30 microbrewers on hand sampling their classic hoppy beverages and a few new ones. Enjoy beer all day with the Unlimited Tasting Cup or a VIP Mug. Plus, they've moved the event to a new location – 2 whole blocks on Ridge Street in Downtown Breckenridge, between Lincoln & Adams. Don’t forget to buy your tickets online before midnight on Friday July 12th to save money! After Friday all tickets must be purchased at the gate. Visit breckenridgebeerfestival.net/july/

Colorado Brewers Rendezvous (Salida) - This Saturday, July 13th from 1pm to 5pm - Over 50+ Colorado breweries will be in attendance for one of the best brewer attended festivals of the year. It's the 17th Annual Colorado Brewers Rendezvous. There will be plenty of live music, local food vendors and of course a wide variety of Colorado craft beer. Meet the brewers in a quiet intimate setting. Set in the spacious Riverside Park in Salida, Colorado. This is a major fundraiser for the Colorado Brewers' Guild and will feature some of the best craft beers in the state. More info, visit the Colorado Brewers Guild website.

Live Music in the Taproom - Beer and music go great together and many Colorado breweries and top watering holes offer live entertainment every day. Check out the Colorado Brewery Music Listings and find out who's playing at your favorite brewery or beer bar. Updated daily.

Colorado Beer News is published on Fermentedly Challenged daily (Monday through Friday) with craft beer stories as they break from newsletters, emails and social media sites. This news is intended for audiences of legal drinking age (21+). If you'd like to subscribe to this daily by email, sign-up here. Please, always drink responsibly and use a designated driver.